There are a lot of firsts in life: first steps, first kiss, first drink with your dad, and, of course, first love. All of those are important landmarks in life, but for gearheads, they all take a back seat to the preeminent life-changing first of youth--your first car. It's the open road, it's responsibility, it's freedom, and it's the first time you get to be a real member of the hot rodding community. Sometimes your first isn't the car you really wanted. More often than not, it's a case of what is affordable, but in the end, that's not really what matters. The car itself isn't as important as the memories made in it.

Times change, styles change, and preferences change, but those memories are irreplaceable and your first car is a tangible link to that time in life before the real responsibilities of life become a reality. That's why people hang on to their first cars, sometimes ferreting them away for decades in spite of lean times or jibes from friends that it's not cool, practical, or will ever roll down the road under its own power again. Don't listen to those guys--they don't get it.

This is our salute to those who persevered and will never have to say, "Man, I wish I would have kept my first."

While looking through submissions, we did run across a couple of nonfirsts that we felt fit the vibe of the story, so we included them as well. After all, it's the story that makes the car important. As one entrant posited, "Sometimes there's a forgettable beater or two while you're working for the one that's really your first hot rod."

'32 Ford three-Window CoupeJanel and Ken SuligaSimi Valley, CAOn Christmas Eve 1964, Don Meyer brought home a full-fendered, chopped, '32 three-window coupe he purchased for $600. The car was dubbed Hoopie, as that was the exclamation his daughters, Janel and Paula, would yell when they heard it roaring up the alley behind their Canoga Park, California, home. In 1970, Don parked the '32, but little Janel continued to dream of taking Hoopie to her prom, and later to her wedding to Ken Suliga in 1982. Unfortunately, Hoopie remained tucked away until after Don passed many years later. In the spring of 2001, with her mother's blessing, Janel pulled the three-window out and had it running again in short order. Finally, Janel was behind the wheel of the hot rod from her childhood. For roughly a year and a half, the Suliga family enjoyed the coupe as it was while working out a plan to respectfully give the Deuce a facelift. "Hoopie is not just another hot rod," Ken notes. "It's an heirloom, a legacy, and a life story that took almost 45 years to play out."

'69 Dodge ChargerCarole and Steve MorrisonSimi Valley, CAHere's to couples and their first hot rods together. Steve and Carole Morrison wanted a family hot rod, so they bought the Charger in rough shape back in 1991. "It was all over the road. I literally herded it down the freeway, and the first thing I changed when I got it home was the steering box," Steve says. With the headliner sagging and the heater barely functioning, Carole happily toted their daughters around in the Charger when they were young. She drove it for approximately a year and a half until the 383 ate the cam. As the president of Milodon (www.milodon.com) and a solid Mopar enthusiast, Steve couldn't just drop another 383 in--a 622hp wedge was the plan. Nearly four years of pondering paint chips passed before '94 Corvette Quasar Blue was chosen to be the new color, which unfortunately led to body shop purgatory, where the Charger remained for years. It was finally back on the road in 2007.

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'68 Chevrolet CorvairClaressa BrekkeLakeland, FLNot many people can claim that their first car was actually the car they came home from the hospital in. Claressa Brekke drives this yellow Corvair every day to school at Bartow High School, where it received the Coolest Car in the Parking Lot award. Claressa's parents, Jeff and Vicki, drove the car every day through 1993, when it was parked and refurbished by Jeff and his dad, Lloyd, at their business, Lloyd's Auto Restorations in Bartow, Florida. Claressa also received her first speeding ticket in the Corvair, which continues to be powered by the 172ci flat-six.

'36 Dodge CoupeRichard F. HarrisColumbus, GARichard was 16 in 1965 and hoping for a '40 Ford or a '57 Chevy. Instead, he got a '36 Dodge coupe that needed a lot of work. Richard drove the coupe to school every day and then rebuilt the flathead-six over Christmas break. That summer, he dropped in a 215ci Olds V-8 with a '39 Ford trans build from leftover parts from his father's dragster. The Dodge sat idle from 1968 to 1972 while he served in the Air Force in Vietnam, but when he came home, he rebuilt it again--this time with a 283 Chevy, a four-speed, and a Corvair front end with a Pinto rack--plus spectacular gold metallic paint. Hey, it was the '70s. "This is not a high-dollar car," Richard says, "but one that was built by me in my garage. The only things I did not do [were] build the engine, trans, and the paint."

'52 Mercury M1Gord BredoSylvan Lake, Alberta, CanadaThis '52 Mercury M1 was Gord Bredo's first. It also was his father's first truck, which he bought brand new. At 15, the beat-up work truck became Gord's, and he worked on it for a year to fix it up. Eventually, his interests changed and the M1 sat parked on the family farm for more than 20 years. In 2002, on the truck's 50th birthday, the farm was sold, leaving the decision: restore it or find it a new home. Gord couldn't leave the rusty family heirloom behind, so a full frame-off restoration began. The original frame was boxed, the rear swapped for a 9-inch Ford with 3.70 gears, the front suspension upgraded to a 2-inch-dropped Mustang II, and underhood is an LT1 backed by a six-speed. Unfortunately, Gord's father didn't see the restoration of his first truck, but his granddaughter did, and she hopes the truck will be hers one day.

'55 Chevrolet Bel AirDave EarleSopchoppy, FLA visit to Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio, when he was 9 got the hot rodder's blood flowing in Dave. At 10, he got a paper route and mowed lawns to save up for his hot rod. At 13, he was working at the local A&W drive-in, and by 1975 at 15, he had saved $1,200--just enough for a retired '55 Bel Air race car he found in the local newspaper. It was love at first sight; not even the house paint stripes or custom "No Jive 55" lettering could deter him. The auto mechanics classes at Dave's high school helped him build a teenager's dream, complete with mag wheels, air shocks, and Thrush glasspacks. A local shop built the balanced 327 that Dave backed with a swap meet four-speed, which he says necessitated he become pretty proficient at swapping in junkyard rearends. That combo served him well for the next 20 years.

'64 Ford FairlaneCody CookSenatobia, MSWhile helping his father build a '63 Galaxie convertible,Cody spotted a picture of Larry Short's Thunderbolt on a poster on the wall of the shop and informed his father that was the car he wanted. His dad smiled and let him know the real deal was out of the question, but a '64 Fairlane shouldn't be an issue. Three months later, they found a roller for $75 and had the starting point. With a basic 302, a T10 four-speed, and a fresh primer job, it was Cody's high school ride. Slick black paint came during junior year, and he even had his senior pictures taken with the 'lane. Later a 302 with Bennett Racing-prepared heads, a hot Lunati cam, and Hooker Super Comp headers was mated to a Tremec 3550 five-speed and a narrowed 8.8 rear from an Explorer. Cody has plenty of good memories over the past 21 years; he and his wife drove off from their wedding in it, and they joined us on the Power Tour together in 2007.

'68 Chevrolet CamaroChad ThompsonBrockport, PASitting behind the wheel of his dad's '71 Road Runner and revving the engine at 6 years old hooked Chad. He tried to buy it when he turned 17 but was told it was too much car for a kid with a lead foot. So he set off to find his own and dragged home a rotting six-cylinder '68 Camaro with putty as far as the eye could see. The original plan was to get it ready in time for prom, but that would have meant slapping paint over problems, so Chad opted for a full resto. Buying parts and running out of money was his life for a while, and his buddies ragged him, saying the car would never be finished. Shiny paint finally came after college, and the new goal was to have it ready for his upcoming honeymoon. But a leaky carb prevented that as well. The car may have missed the prom and the honeymoon, but it's on the road now, and Chad has a wife and twin girls to enjoy it with.

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'66 CorvetteJohn CrawfordTucker, GABack in 1981, John was 17 years old and looking for his first car, when his dad found a '66 Corvette for sale. John, not knowing how to drive anything without a gear selector including the word park, took the four-speed, small-block Vette for a quick spin. The Vette easily chirped the 50-series BFGoodrich tires in all four gears. The Vette, $6,600 later, found a new home in John's parents' garage. Twenty-seven years, five motors (currently a Lamar Walden 462ci big-block), four transmissions, (currently a Tremec TKO 600), three rearends, one blue-to-red-color change, more tires than Carl Edwards used in his last three races, and more money on parts than the price of a new ZR-1 Corvette, John is still cruising it. He's occasionally pondered selling it, but his wife of 12 years, whom he met while cruising in the Vette, has assured their two boys, ages 3 and 5, that when they turn 16, they too will have the opportunity to cruise the streets in "daddy's race car."

'73 Dodge DartDawson HayesLa Fayette, GADawson's been riding in this '73 Dodge his whole life and always wanted to drive it. His dad had bought it new, loaded with longitudinal stripes, a hoodscoop, side pipes, American Racing slots, a 318, and a three-speed, as well as some neat decals that said, "Stinger, By Marietta Dodge, Dodge Scat Pack." When Dawson turned 15, his dad turned over the keys and he drove it all through high school. Down the road a bit, Dawson built and installed a 360 that has evolved over time to propel the Dart to 7.97 in the eighth-mile and 7.37 with a 125 shot. Just like his father passed it to him, Dawson plans to pass the Dart on to his son, Caleb.

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'58 Ford F-100Colby MartinPomona, CAWhen the fate of his grandfather's '58 F-100 was in limbo, Colby and his dad stepped up and rescued the truck. Colby's grandpa bought it back in 1962 to use as a push truck for his gas station/service shop in Altadena, California, and his father had even learned to drive in it. But after 36 years and numerous appearances in Hollywood productions as a set location (including the used car lot in the 2007 Transformers movie), the gas station was sold and thus the truck lost its job. After ditching the slot mags, wooden push bumper, CB radio, and towing mirrors, the body was restored, shaved, nosed, then dropped into the weeds with a Volare front clip. It's been 10 years and the black suede and Rat Fink Green paint is still holding up to the abuse of dry lakes, dragstrips, and L.A. bar hopping trips.

'68 Chevrolet CamaroMike ElmerKaysville, UTWhen Mike was 12 years old, his dad promised him that when he achieved the level of Eagle Scout, he would get him a project car. By the time he was 13, Mike had earned a rusty six-cylinder '68 Camaro. The first iteration yielded a 327, but soon afterward an oval-port L88 427 with a TH350 and steep 4.88 gears in a 12-bolt went in. Wearing black primer, it went 12.14 at 114 mph at Bonneville Raceway. Mike had no problem sharing with his brothers Kris and Tim; in fact, Tim won a high school drag race in it. The Camaro went through high school and college with Mike and earned a rebuild. Kris and Mike handled the bodywork, and their dad rebuilt the 427 with an Isky cam, Dart Pro 1 heads, and Arias 7.9:1 pistons to complement the new 8-71 BDS blower. With 3.70 gears in the rear, Mike's hoping for mid-10s on pump gas when he gets it dialed in.

'38 Pontiac Silver Streak coupeDave WestermanOld Hickory, TNA slightly used '38 Pontiac Silver Streak coupe was the Westermans' first family car. Dave's dad bought it in 1941 and drove it as a traveling salesman until 1950, then passed it on to his wife when he got a new '50 Pontiac coupe. Dave bought it from them in 1960 for the princely sum of $150. But when Dave went off to school in 1962, his dad got tired of seeing it rot in the yard and sold it to a local rodder, who let it languish for several years. Dave lost track of it in the '70s after moving from Kentucky to Tennessee. In 1990 he was gassing up his six-banger '59 Chevy Biscayne at Union Hill dragstrip, when a guy inquired why in the world he would build a six for his hot rod. Dave told him about the Pontiac, and the man told him a pal of his had recently passed on to that great Autorama in the sky, leaving behind a '38 Pontiac coupe. It had been street-rodded in the '70s, but Dave positively identified it as his first car and couldn't get his checkbook out fast enough.

36/129Photo by Wes Duenkel

'67 Ford MustangJeff BillingsBrentwood, TNIn June 1980, while he was a juniorin high school, Jeff purchased his Mustang convertible. After a cosmetic restoration, it became his daily driver for the next six years as he finished high school and then attended Florida State University.While at FSU, he met his future wife, Robin, and they had their first date in the Mustang.It was also while at FSU that Jeff named the car Renegade, after the horse the Seminoles' mascot rides on. After he and Robin got married in 1986, Renegade went into storage, whereit remained until 2000, when the Shelbification began. It now runs a 5.0 with Air Flow Research heads, an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, a Holley 670 carb, and a Ford B-303 cam. Now Jeff enjoys taking Robin and their two sons, Greg and Robbie, to local cruise-ins and shows.Jeff tells us, "Every time I fire it up, it's like I'm 17 again."

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'67 Chevrolet ChevelleCraig WillGlen Allen, NJCraig could write a book about the adventures he's had in his car. He was in high school in 1977 when he acquired it in a trade that only ended up costing him $50. It was a plain Jane with a 250ci six, a Powerglide, and no upgrades, save the bucket seats. Since that day, there have been three incarnations: primer black with a junkyard 350 and four-speed that expired shortly after returning from a Key West road trip, a frame-off resto in 1982 using a tree in the backyard, and another in 1985 (the same tree plus a snow plow) after it was stolen and totaled. The Chevelle was Craig's daily driver for many years before it finally received a decent paint job in 1991. Besides the joy of building and driving his dream car, now beautifully restored with a 427 and a lot of factory options, Craig tells us it's the memories and friendships made because of the Chevelle that are the most priceless. Today it's still driven regularly--to the delight of his wife, whom he met because of the car.

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'71 Ford Torino GTGreg PettitDenton, TXSince he bought this '71 Torino GT in high school back in 1987, Greg saysit's been through countless engines--from a 302 with a two-barrel carb to the current 545ci stroker he and his brother built. All the work on the car over the years has been performed by Greg, his brother, and his friends. With a mini-tubbed rear, a Strange rearend with a Detroit locker, Moser axles, and 3.89 gears helping plant the Torino's bulk, the 11.9:1, pump gas 545 has propelled it to a best of 10.12 at 132, despiteweighing 4,300 pounds with Greg at the wheel and still retaining A/C.

'72 Chevrolet ChevelleGraham ChaseWest Hartford, CTGraham bought his '72 Chevelle when he was 19; he's 55 now. Originally it had a 307 paired with a Powerglide; now it has a much more fun 350 and four-speed combo. It wasn't much trouble for Graham to re-create the vintage photo of himself with the Chevelle, since his parents still live in the same house where that shot was taken 36 years ago.

'68 Plymouth BarracudaEric MarcoccioDracut, MAThe earliest memory Eric has of his grandfather is riding next to him in the center of the bench seat of his '68 Barracuda. He bought it new and it was later passed down to Eric's mother. The car bounced around the family for a while but was eventually given back to his grandfather. Having spent most of its life as a daily commuter in salty Massachusetts, it was given a quickie resto, and Eric's grandfather continued to drive it until Eric's 16th birthday when he passed it to him, fulfilling a promise he had made when Eric was very young. Eric's first solo trip was to high school the day he got his license. A lot of quality father/son bonding time was spent rebuilding the original 318 and performing general maintenance, which is what Eric says he cherishes most. Though it's currently in a 15-year hiatus, Eric plans to get it back on the road as soon as money allows.

50/129Rather than stock decals, Brandon opted to have an artist paint on the hood bird.

'76 Pontiac Trans Am Limited EditionBrandon J. AtkinsLouisville, KYThree days after Christmas, 15-year-old Brandon's best present arrived: his $2,500 TA from Michigan. Autotrader Online led him to this rare, 1 of 533, limited-edition, '76 Trans Am with T-tops and a 400. It was his daily driver until he was 19, despite several mechanics advising him it was unsafe, thanks to northern salt destroying the rear framerails. Eventually, it was parked and sat for a few years until Brandon was able to begin a fullresto in 2006. The 400 was rebuilt and topped with an Edelbrock intake and '72 Pontiac heads, and the TH350 was swapped out for a Muncie four-speed. The chassis got Hotchkis 2-inch-drop springs, subframe connectors, and a new subframe.

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'67 Ford MustangTommy MooreLancaster, CAThe before picture shows Tommy's fastback as it looked for a senior year car show in 1977; note the Shelby mags with Posi Traction L60-14s, custom blue paint with black "hi-lites," and the side pipes. It had a 390 with Cyclone headers and a 3310 Holley to begin with but was soon a 454ci FE with Hi-Riser heads. "I used to tell guys it was a `60-over 390,'" Tommy says, "but few knew I meant 60 ci over. That setup was good for 11.60s without working it hard at all." The rearend was shortened and the spring perches moved and mated with the main leaf from a Chevy Blazer. It all worked well, and the car hooked and went straight. Today, it's a Chris Alston Pro Gas chassis with the same engine but enhanced with Edelbrock heads and a Hampton 8-71--a gift from his wife for their 10th anniversary.

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'32 Ford TudorRon BuzdasPlacerville, CAThis Deuce has occupied Ron's garage for the last 48 years. He purchased the Tudor with $150 of hard-earned paper route money in 1960. Ron sprayed the McMullen roadster-inspired flames around 1978, and it's earned all its paint chips and patina through tons of memories and thousands upon thousands of miles of fun and service. Over the years, Ron and his '32 have been together through way too many adventures to fully list: many girlfriends, driving Fuel Dragsters and Fuel Altereds, racing motorcycles, one war, one marriage, one divorce, one daughter, one granddaughter, and on, and on. The adventures will keep coming, too--Ron's already planning the celebration for their 50th anniversary together.

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'39 Ford Deluxe CoupeBob HanstraLafayette, INThe first and only hot rod for Bob is a '39 Ford Deluxe coupe he bought as just a body and frame with a straight axle in 1973 when he was 16. The coupe was an old drag racer from the '60s called the Blue Angel, which was painted on the sides. It even still had stickers on the windshield from Bunker Hill Dragway in northern Indiana. Over the next couple of years, with the help of some buddies, Bob dropped in a 327ci Chevy, a Muncie four-speed, a 12-bolt rearend, some old Pontiac bucket seats, got it painted orange, and started driving it to high school. A few years later, a 4-71 Cragar blower led to a "showing off" accident and a sideswiped parked car, but Bob repaired the coupe and he and his wife drove away from their wedding in it in 1983. These days, it's undergoing another, more extensive resto to get it ready for Power Tour. Bob assures us the same supercharged 327 will still be in it.

63/129Robert's Charger is an early-production model built in fall 1968. It was bought as a Christmas present for the original owner.

'69 Dodge ChargerRobert GrossArlington, TXRobert found his first car with its windows rolled down sitting on four flat tires in a driveway under a tree. He and his friends would ride their bikes down the street past it and say "Man, look at that old Mopar." Even back then, they knew it was a cool car. It was for sale one weekend during a garage sale for $500; Robert talked the owner down to $450. It became his daily driver for work and college during the '80s and '90s, but Robert treated the Charger well. Twenty-six years later, it's still in the as-found condition with original paint. Only the carpet and seat covers have been changed, and the 318 was traded only a few years after he got it for a "much more fun" 440, as Robert puts it. "I can think of many of my friends who would have literally destroyed this car had they owned it back then."

'65 AMC Rambler Classic 770 WagonJohn BlackTerre Haute, INA summer of farm work earned 13-year-old John the $650 asking price--aided by $100 from his grandfather--to pick up a '64,000-mile '65 Rambler Classic 770 station wagon. An elderly gent had been using the 232 six-cylinder AMC to haul buckets of coal for his garage stove. John drove it all through high school and some in college, but by 2000 the trans was starting to slip, and it was parked for several years. What was supposed to be a simple tranny extraction for a rebuild turned into a full amateur restoration with an engine rebuild, a new brake system, interior work, and a roller'd Rustoleum paint job, la the "$98 Paint Job" (July '07). "All my life I heard my dad and his friends' `should have never got rid of that' stories," John says. "I guess they sank in; I have had the Rambler for 17 years and I'm only 30."

'30 Ford Tudor SedanAdam BrownEdgewood, KYHe probably should have seen it coming, since he was building a '30 Ford Tudor in the garage, but when Adam's dad asked him what he wanted for his first car, Adam said he wanted a street rod of his own so they could drive to shows together. Early one morning, Adam's dad woke him up and said, "Let's go get you a car." Sitting on an old guy's back porch was his five-window Model A. That was 12 years ago, and they just finished. Patience paid off, though. Highlights on the sharp Aare the 3-inch chop, suicide doors, and '32 Ford dash, gas tank, and grille shell. For driveability, the A sits on a Brookville Roadster frame with a TCI chrome dropped axle with stainless hairpins up front and a TCI four-bar with a 9-inch in the rear. It may have taken all their spare time and money, but Adam and his father can say with pride that they did all of the work themselves other than the flames and interior.

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'74 Pontiac LeMansBryan D. CroneAdrian, MIThe keys to a Buccaneer Red '73 Trans Am were traded for this '74 LeMans because Bryan's dad was afraid he'd eventually start racing and hurt himself in the TA. How ironic. Originally, the LeMans belonged to Bryan's mother, but it was given to him as a high school graduation gift in 1977. Nowadays, with a Pontiac 542 capable of propelling the 4,000-pound all-steel LeMans to 9.91 at 132 on the engine, it's still street legal, has all the original interior components (even the AM-only radio), and power steering. There are a few minor dings and ripples, but that's the original Admiralty Blue paint. Now Bryan says it's power-adder time. Once he upgrades the six-point 'cage and adds a two-stage NOS Big Shot, he's anticipating high 8s.

70/129"Occasionally, I take the car out on errands and find my way to a backroad. If there is no traffic, the old car and the old guy hit 100-plus mph just for old times." - Bob Lash

'34 Ford VictoriaBob LashSt. George, KSBob bought his '34 Ford Victoria in the spring of 1954 with $35 of hard-earned paper route money and has owned it since. But that's not where the history began. The Vicky is the first car Bob rode in back in 1936 and the first car he ever drove in 1949. His dad had actually purchased the Vicky new, and it served as the family car until 1949 when it was traded in for a new Ford. Bob tracked it down five years later and brought it back home. Over the years, the car has had lots of driveline and engine combos, including a 0.030-over 265 Chevy with three two-barrels on a Sharp 3x2 manifold, Jahns 11:1 pistons, and a Duntov cam. Bob ruled the streets in northeast Kansas from 1957 until the early '60s and won more than 100 trophies at the drags. Currently, it runs a near-stock 283 and a Saginaw four-speed. It seems there's a tradition developing in the Lash household: Bob's son in 1972 and first grandson in 1998 also took their first rides home in the Vicky. That's three generations, seven decades, and counting.

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'66 Chevrolet IITara BushLongwood, FLAt 16, Tara happened on a shiny-black '66 Chevy II in a grocery store parking lot with a for sale sign, but $3,500 was a fortune at that time. She decided she could work hard to pay it off, but it was too late-it was already sold. A few months later, on her 17th birthday, Tara's mom surprised her; she was the one who had bought the '66. Tara showed the Nova every weekend and claims that going to shows and taking care of the Chevy II kept her out of teenage trouble. Twenty-three years later, not much has changed; the 194ci sixer has been detailed, the custom interior was changed to the original, the paint has been touched up, and the factory A/C still needs to be reinstalled.

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'72 Chevrolet Chevelle MalibuTyler OsborneBushnell, ILThis '72 Chevelle Malibu 350 was purchased new by Tyler's great-grandfather, and it was passed on to him to restore. The car was completely gutted down to the frame and rebuilt with a new 330hp GM crate engine with headers and Flowmasters to give it the right sound. It has a new interior, paint, and 15-inch American Racing wheels and is now Tyler's daily driver, except during the snowy, salty winter months.

73/129There were 76,698 Tudor sedan Mainlines produced in 1955.

'55 Ford MainlineRoger FilipsHartington, NERoger's father bought this Mainline new at Miller Ford in Hartington. Young Roger learned to drive in it and took it daily to school. At the time, he wished his dad had opted for a '55 Chevy, but he quickly began to appreciate the uniqueness of the Mainline. A recent six-year home garage resto is nearly complete, and Roger has upgraded it with a Camaro subframe and a 388ci EFI'd stoker with Vortec heads paired with a 700R4 and a 9-inch rear. Jeff says, "I designed it to be driven and for having fun. It excels at both."

'56 Chevrolet 210 4dr SedanJeff BellRockford, MIThis sedan has been a part of Jeff's life since he was 16, when $572 worth of lawn mowing money rescued it from Dokes Used Cars in French Lick, Indiana. The 235 sixer and three-on-the-tree soon left for a 350 and a Muncie four-speed with a 12-bolt Posi from a totaled '69 Camaro. The '76 Corvette Silver with GM white it still wears was sprayed on July 4, 1980, and other than a recent 383 stroker, the mods stopped 29 years ago-but the memories keep coming. Jeff left his wedding in it, and he takes his three kids cruising and to shows in it regularly.

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'70 Mach 1 MustangBrett LewisWest Chester, OHBrett drove this 351W-equipped Mach 1 every day for years until it became unsafe due to frame issues. Marriage and kids kept it parked for the next 15 years, but with help from his dad, it was resurrected in 2005 and reinstated as a family cruiser. The rehab job included a fresh 351 with '95 Cobra heads, roller rockers, a Pertronix-updated distributor, a Holley Street Avenger carb, Hedman headers, a Flowmaster exhaust, and a set of 17-inch Coy wheels.

'64 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SSGarry BowldsOwensboro, KYThis 300hp 327ci/Powerglide '64 Chevelle Malibu SS became 16-year-old Garry's first in 1974 with 86,000 miles on it. The Desert Beige father/son project came home on the other end of a chain. For grins, they decided to see if they could get the engine to fire. Garry dropped the clutch at 35 mph, and unbelievably, it smoked to life and ran. Of course, it only lasted for a week before locking up, so an engine rebuild was added to the list. The car had fresh Corvette gold lacquer and a black rolled and pleated interior, and since Garry had a penchant for driving fast, his dad gave him the CB handle Gold Rush. Garry went everywhere in it until it was eventually parked in 1981. The Chevelle survived 10 moves and a divorce, but the elements were not so kind. In 1998, the second father/son restoration began. Now 34 years later, Garry and his dad have taken it to several car shows and plan to join the Power Tour soon.

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'68 Chevrolet CamaroJim ChesnuttAppleton, WIJim bought his '68 Camaro in 1986 while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. It had Z/28 stripes but was only a clapped-out sixer with a Powerglide. No matter-within a few weeks Jim had it tuned enough to do a one-wheel peel-as long as the nose was pointed uphill. A 350/four-speed soon took its place, which Jim says was good for many late-night blasts down twisty backroads. The Camaro went into hibernation when Jim joined the Army and basically sat until 2002, when he finally dropped in a 454/TH400 combo and fell in love with big-block torque. Two years later, he stepped up to a GMPP 502, a TH400 with a Gear Vendor's over/underdrive and a Moser 12-bolt. "Both friends and family kept telling me, 'Get rid of that car' and 'You'll never get that thing running,' since it sat for so many years," Jim says. "Now they're almost afraid to ride in it-all except for my wife; she loves to drive it."

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'68 Chevrolet CamaroChristopher B. KnightKingsport, TNThere's a lot of history in Christopher's '68 Camaro: "I took my driving test for my license in this car my senior year of high school, it took me to college, my wife and I dated in it, and 25 years later, my two daughters get picked up from school on occasion in daddy's hot rod," he tells us. On top of that, over the years it's been totaled twice and repaired after being hit by drunk drivers. In 1997, Christopher finally began a ground-up restoration. With help from family and friends, everything except welding in the rear quarters and applying the Dark Amethyst Pearl Metallic paint happened in the basement garage of his house. It now has a 355 small-block with aluminum heads, a Performer RPM intake, a Holley Street Avenger carburetor, an MSD ignition, and a Flowmaster exhaust. Behind that is a TH350 followed by the original 2.73-geared rearend.

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'69 Chevrolet CamaroRick HartpenceTonganoxie, KSOriginally, Rick's '69 Camaro had a TH350 when he got it in August 1986, right before his sophomore year, but he wanted a four-speed...badly. His dad made the mistake of telling him they'd swap in a stick when the auto died. Long story short, the auto just wouldn't die-and there certainly wasn't a lack of trying on Rick's part. The Camaro was his daily driver until 1991 without losing the trans. Since then, it's had everything from a 305 to a stout 402 between the framerails, and the original 12-bolt has had 3:08s, 4:11s, and even 4:56s. Currently, Rick has a TPI 350 from a '92 Z28 and (finally) a T5 trans.

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'66 Ford Galaxie 500SSgt Bobby RusleyBossier City, LAThis '66 Galaxie 500 has been through a lot with Bobby over the last 11 years. His father passed on the keys to his first car to him in May 1996. In the summer of 1998, he wrecked it while admiring another car. It was returned to better-than-before condition, just in time to be sideswiped by a school bus one cold, snowy, winter morning. Despite two heartaches in a row, Bobby and his dad buckled down and rerestored the Galaxie better than ever. A couple years later, Bobby's Army signing bonus provided for a fresh 390 FE with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, a Holley Street Avenger 870 double-pumper, 390 GT heads fitted with 428 CJ valves, pop-up pistons, Hooker Super-Comp Headers, a well-prepped C6 trans, and 4:11 gears for the rear-which Bobby's dad in enjoying while Bobby is stationed overseas.

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'71 Chevrolet CamaroBrad LaFlammeWaterloo, Ontario, CanadaStill the proud owner of the '71 Camaro he bought, with his parent's help, on September 7, 1977, for $1,500, Brad's been on a constant search for more speed since he got out of college. Thirty-one years, several engines, and a few paint jobs later, Brad is now bracket racing the Camaro with the Ontario Nostalgic Drag Racers (ONDR) with a pump-gas-friendly 582ci Shafiroff big-block that's putting 592 hp and 608 lb-ft to the wheels through a TH400 trans with a Coan 4,000-stall converter. That took him as fast as 10.49 at 130 mph with the stock 10-bolt and 3.23 gears. Looking for lower e.t.'s and 60-foot times, Brad has just completed a Ford 9-inch swap with 4.30 gears and a Gear Vendors over/underdrive.

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'67 Chevelle SS396Dave UngaroPhiladelphia, PAA big-block '67 Chevelle-what more could a kid ask for? Dave Ungaro's '67 Chevelle SS396 is an ex-drag car that his brother, C.J, bought as his first car from their cousin in 1981. Dave bought it from C.J. in 1983 when he was 15 after selling his go-kart for $220 and then making payments by washing dishes. The hairy tunnel-rammed 350 was traded for a milder small-block with Tri-power for better street manners, but Dave kept the Muncie four-speed and 5.13:1 gears and drove it daily to high school. It became a secondary car during college, which allowed him and his brother to drop in a tunnel-rammed big-block. Eventually, Dave and C.J. took it full circle and returned the Chevelle to the track for heads-up racing at Atco in New Jersey.

88/129Other than the repaired section, the back paint is still the lacquer Dave and his dad sprayed 24 years ago.

'67 ChevelleDave WernerEgg Harbor, NJThere weren't any patch panels available in 1985 when 15-year-old Dave and his dad were patching up a rusty, $500 '67 Chevelle-it was all hand-hammered pieces of sheetmetal and pop rivets under the DuPont Diamond Black Lucite. It was Dave's only transportation for many years, until a careless backer put a long gash down side of it in his college parking lot. From then on, a '66 Corvair served beater duty while the repaired Chevelle came out for dating, cruising, and street racing, with occasional trips to Atco and Englishtown. It ran low 14s in original form and 13s, 12s, then 11s with various engine, convertor, trans, and rear changes. Presently, it's a mild 383 and a proshifted Doug Nash five-speed and a 4.11 combo with Chris Alston ladder bars and coilovers. While it's been mostly car shows and cruise nights lately, Dave says the next step is twin turbos to liven things up a bit.

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'68 Impala SSDean and Bryan EngelbrechtBloomington, IL"I remember the day I got it, December 5, 1971, like it was yesterday," Dean says. "We paid $1,200 for it with 20,000 miles." Four years later, Dean told his parents he was taking the engine to have it overhauled; they were surprised when he returned with 11:1 pistons, LT1 heads, an Edelbrock Torker intake, a Holley 780 carb, and Hooker headers. Dean drove it until 1986 when it was stored on his Dad's farm until 1995. He trailered it home, since his son, Bryan, would soon be 16 and he'd promised him the Impala. By then, the rear quarters were so bad a chunk of one was lying on the trailer bed by the time he got it home. After paint and body and a new set of heads on the same 327, the Imp got to be a first car all over again.

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'63 Olds F-85 CutlassDon McAteeSt. Louis, Mi"I got my driver's license in this car at age 16, drove it to the prom, and went on my first date and my first camping trip with my girlfriend (now wife). I'm now 47, and this car is never going to leave the family." Now that's history. Don restored the Olds from the ground up over the last 17 years and finally completed it last summer. It has the original 215ci aluminum V-8, but the automatic has been replaced with a four-speed and tach console.

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'66 Chevelle SS396Bruce ClemClearwater, FLNearly all the options were checked off on this Danube Blue '66 Chevelle SS 396 that Bruce purchased with his girlfriend (now wife) way back in 1968 when he was 18. It's an original L-78 with the 375hp 396ci engine, K-66 transistor ignition, Cowl-Plenum air cleaner assembly, M-22 trans, posi, bench seat, and all the interior goodies, including am/fm stereo multiplex with four speakers. Believe it or not, it's still numbers matching and has only covered 59,850 miles.

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'57 Chevrolet 210Greg Thoen & Associates Advertising PhotographyMaple Grove, MNIn 10th grade, Greg purchased his '57 with a new interior for $400. The old 283 and three-speed came out and a 327 with a four-speed went in; leaded premium was only 42c at the time. That was good for 12.90s every weekend, until the local strips closed down. The screamin' yellow enamel came in 1976, the same year Greg got married. "My wife loved the car -oh, if that back seat could talk..." Eventually, family priorities saw the '57 get parked from 1987 until 2001, when Greg decided to get it back in shape, but intact as his high school car. He freshened up critical stuff-suspension, disc brakes, steering, and so on-but the top side, drivetrain, and interior were kept as they were.

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'40 Chevrolet Master Deluxe coupeMike CozadWichita KSMike's dad's response to his request for a car was "Save your money and don't forget the insurance." All Mike could afford was $100, which he spent on a 51K-mile '40 Chevy Master Deluxe coupe. He sanded the car nights and weekends for three months, then hired a body shop to straighten the fenders and apply classy Honduras Maroon. He split the manifold with 12-inch glasspacks and immediately received his first ticket for loud noise. The engine gave up within a year, so in went a fresh 283 V-8, followed later by a 300hp 327 with a Muncie four-speed and 4.11 gears. Mike had a blast street dragging it and outrunning his dad in his Tri-power, four-speed, '66 GTO. Family life back-burnered the coupe's progress for a few decades, but Mike continued to drive it on nice days, even as the paint and drivetrain aged with him. Fast-forward to today and the '40 is finally getting a full refresh, so Mike can have many more years of enjoyment with it on the road.

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'68 Ford MustangMike GastMaize, KSOne hundred dollars was all it took for Mike to get his '68 Sprint 6 Mustang-though it did have a cracked block and head. A low-mile salvage yard six got it back on the road-and the track. It wasn't really fast on the straights, but Mike held his own on the corners and even passed a few V-8s, thanks to his cornering speed. At the '86 Tulsa Mid-America Shelby convention, Mike and the Mustang were photographed and featured in a Mustang magazine in August 1987. Somehow, one of those pics from that track day was also used on a Mustang trading card-No. 87 of 100 cards. The Mustang has been parked since 1994, but Mike's pondering two potential V-8 transplants soon; either a 351 Cleveland or an aluminum-headed 351 Windsor.

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'71 Olds 442Mike KeutzerDenver, COMike was about 14 when he realized what was parked in his brother-in-law's garage. He immediately asked if he could buy the car when he turned 16. Since 442s were a dime a dozen at the time, the answer was yes. Two years later, Mike was the proud owner of a bittersweet '71 Olds 442. His dad bought a new set of snow tires for the upcoming winter in Estes Park, Colorado, which didn't actually see the first winter, as all of the rubber was quickly melted onto the pavement. "I'm not sure how we survived the high school days," Mike says, "but we all had a good time. I'm also unsure how I've managed to avoid any tickets in the 4-Mobile, but there were plenty of times when the officer simply told me, 'Mike, go home or your mom is getting a call.'"

108/129Look in the background and you'll see Patrick's '74 Javelin daily driver he took on the '08 Power Tour.

'72 Javelin AMXPatrick HullEagle Lake, MNThe Javelin AMX became Patrick's in 1983 at the ripe old age of 16, purchased from a couple who was moving and had one too many vehicles. For $325 he had his choice between the Javelin and a Dodge Colt. It was a no-brainer. The 360 was Patrick and his girlfriend's first engine rebuild back in 1985, and it remains stock except for a mild cam and Holley 650 carb. The 727 TorqueFlite, rebuilt at the same time, is also stock, save a B&M shift kit. Currently, the Javelin is Dodge Jamaica Blue, but it's soon to be resprayed the original Jolly Green-hopefully in time for the '09 Power Tour.

'67 Pontiac LeMansRandy LewisWeston, MOBought new in 1966, this '67 Pontiac LeMans was the Lewis family car until 1973, when it was handed down to Randy's brother, Rodney. In 1976, it was Randy's turn. The 326 was pulled to be rebuilt and the two-speed auto was changed for a three-speed manual with a Hurst shifter. With fresh paint and a new set of Cragars, it was ready. It was Randy's daily driver until 1979, when he bought a new Camaro. However, it didn't replace the LeMans, and Randy continued to drive it regularly-he still does. With a new set of Intro wheels and a 1.5-inch lowered stance, Randy joined us on the '08 Power Tour(r) and may be back for more. "It's a continuing work in progress, and the plan is to hand it down to my 16-year-old son, Joshua," Randy says, "but not now. Maybe when he is 40, because I'm still having fun with it."

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'47 Ford ConvertibleRick ButlerCarson City, MIFirst purchased in 1953 as a second vehicle for Rick's mom to drive, the '47 was passed on to Rick's oldest brother, Tom, who drove it to high school from 1956 to 1959. It was passed on to the next oldest brother, Jerry, who drove it until 1962. By the time it was Rick's turn in 1967, winter roads and lots of hot rodding had taken their toll. After getting the flathead running, patching the rust with sheetmetal and tar, and a quick repaint, the '47 was good for 16.5 at the local dragstrip with Offy heads and intake and was Rick's ride until graduating high school in 1969. After that, it sat neglected until 1980, when Rick decided to give it a full resto and excise all the rust, tar, and Bondo. It's now in better shape than ever with a Nova subframe and Marine 350 engine with a B&M street blower. Rick has two sons who want the car but says as long as he can still handle the extra horsepower, it's staying with him.

'78 Ford Mustang IIRobert SmallBend, ORHis father's Mustang II became his graduation present in 1986, mainly because Robert "tore it all up." While enrolled in auto shop classes in high school in 1984, Robert yanked the four-banger in his dad's little coupe and dropped in a 302 and C4 trans, which he street raced and drove throughout his high school years and college. It has been rebuilt and parked a few times over the last 20 years since-but never neglected. The Orange Crate, as it's known, has been stripped down and repainted the original Tangerine and now has a four-speed trans with a warmed-up 302. Robert and his wife, Shari, are now in their forties with two little girls, a car payment, and a mortgage, so buying performance parts, wheels, and tires has evolved into buying shoes, clothes, and school supplies for the girls. But he tells us there's still something special about firing up the Mustang and going out for the evening.

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'63 Ford Galaxie 500 XLScott BergkampSalina, KSThe first rebuild of Scott's '63 Galaxie 500 XL was through a teenager's eye to get it ready for high school; looking good with loud pipes was priority, we'd guess. It did end up with cast-iron headers, 428 CJ cam, and an Edelbrock four-barrel carb on the 390, however. Scott put it in storage during college and then built a street rod after he graduated, which resulted in the Galaxie only recently coming back out. This time it'll get a real resto to even better than its former glory, now that he's no longer a teenager and has a better idea of how to do things right.

'67 Chevelle SS 396Steve AcquinoLock Haven, PAOn his 18th birthday in 1972, Steve's mom surprised him with a Marina Blue '67 Chevelle SS 396. Unfortunately, the big-block had been installed in a G/MP race car, so Steve got a 300hp 327-but it did still have the factory M-22 and 4.10 gears. Many years and many speed parts later, the 327 went away and a 427ci, 435hp big-block from a '68 Impala SS replaced it. Currently, the Chevelle has 46k original miles, as it sat in storage for many years while Steve raised a family. Actually, it was his son who urged him to get the car out of mothballs and back on the road. They've already restored a '74 Triumph Spitfire together, and the Chevelle will be another great father/son garage bonding experience for them.

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'62 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport CoupeTim RunyanSummitville, INIn the fall of 1980, Tim's dad passed a used car lot with a '62 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe. It was nothing fancy, but at $800, the price was right. So at the age of 15, it became Tim's. The 235 in-line-six was tired, the brakes were shot, and the radiator leaked, which was perfect, since Tim's dad was a mechanic and wanted his son to learn how to work on things for himself. Together, they rebuilt the inline, gave it a new clutch, brakes, and his dad's favorite feature: a split exhaust manifold with dual glasspacks. After finishing engineering school, Tim updated the driveline to the current 327 small-block with ported double-hump heads, a Carter AFB carb, and Cyclone headers. The three-speed gave way to an M-21 four-speed. Career, a family, and a mortgage have slowed down further progress, but Tim's new garage is finally finished and it's time to start wrenching again.

'70 ChevelleTony ZulkowskiNewark, DEEver since he spotted his first '70 SS 454 LS-6 Chevelle at a car show when he was 12, Tony knew he had to have one. He saved his allowance and lunch money until he was 16 and started cutting lawns for 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week for $2.50 a lawn. By the end of that summer, Tony had saved $4,000. An Auto Trader wanted ad finally united him with his Chevelle-a white with black stripes, 396 SS with F41 suspension and a black bucket seat and console interior. The guy who owned it took Tony around the block in it and asked if he would like to drive it. Once in the driver's seat, Tony instantly roasted the tires. Tony picked up the car on January 2, 1988, and drove it every day for about two years, until the wear and tear and rust and rot finally caught up. It's been in resto limbo for 20 years, but it's getting close now with an 852hp, 580ci big-block that should be good for the 9s.

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'64 Nova SSJim CarusoDevore, CAA "little old lady from Pasadena" was reportedly the previous owner of Jim's '64 Nova SS when he picked it up at a car lot in 1984. The car spent many years in primer with junkyard motors and seats that had no upholstery as Jim learned how to build a hot rod. In 1994, it finally got fresh blue paint and a four-speed Muncie, thanks to Jim's father. In 2003, Jim decided to turn it into a dedicated drag car. Currently with a 434ci small-block, a single carb, and a five-speed built by his father, the Nova has run a best eighth-mile of 5.79 seconds at 118 and quarter-mile times in the 9.30s at 146 mph-and Jim says it's capable of running in the 8s. That's quite impressive for a naturally, 3,205-pound stick car.

It's Not All Past Tense!While it's great to read about those who've kept their cars for a lifetime of stories and adventures, we'd be remiss if we didn't end with a couple of young gearheads following the same path. Their stories read much like all the previous ones, which is the most inspiring part. There is a next generation that'll be building its own hot rods and gaining all the priceless life experience and lessons that go hand in hand. And you know what? We'd be willing to bet they'll still have them 30 years down the road as well.

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'66 Ford MustangTheron RettigSpencer, IAAn avid muscle car enthusiast, 15-year-old Theron Rettig has just secured what will be his first hot rod. Last July, Theron's parents found a complete '66 Mustang for only $1,200--it even came with an extra 289 and trans. The Rettigs had a family trip to California planned, but to Theron's surprise and delight, they sacrificed the trip to purchase his first car. Once they got it home, it only took a little wire-patching a new set of battery cables for the 289 to fire. "It sent chills down my spine," Theron tells. "When I first took her out, it was the ride of my life. I'm so glad my parents did what they did, and I thank them almost every day."

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'79 Chevrolet CamaroZach PacholkeBay City, MIA long summer of washing dishes in his uncle's restaurant helped Zach finally raise enough cash to get his first car. At 14, he's now the proud owner of a '79 Camaro project car, which he's already begun stripping down for restoration. Not only did he buy it himself, Zach says he plans on doing all the work himself and buying all the parts. "My car is a big part of my life and is a project that will stay with me for a long time," he says. Kudos to you for taking the responsibility, Zach. The more of yourself you invest, the more you'll appreciate the finished car.

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Take 5 With Robert Fascetti
Written
by
David Kennedy
on November 20, 2014 He’s vice president, Powertrain Engineering, and responsible for Ford’s global offering of engines, transmissions, transfer cases, and axles.